Song of the day – 231: Tunabunny

Bangs wept. This music makes me deliriously happy. It clatters, it splatters, it shatters, it matters. I’ve listened to the album front to back, back to front, sideways, length ways, every which wrong ways, adored the New Order steals, the slices of unrequited Bikini Kill/Skinned Teen screaming, the tributes to the female Captain Beefheart, the way that everything falls into a split-second momentary daze before surging back off again, the retro-space age echoes, the full-on distortion which sometimes drips into a most delicious haze, the scratching trembly guitar parts, the thudding percussion, the entire chaotic splendour.

I’ve lusted after the thought of owning their ‘Don’t Trust Whitey’ flexi-seven-inch-disc of Pavement covers.
I’ve lusted after the thought of catching them live, the delirium.

Some fellow on Facebook sent me a link. I was immediately attracted by the name – don’t know why, just sounded right. Scrawly-magic. I had a listen to one of the songs on YouTube, and wrote back within 20 seconds, “I don’t need longer than 10 seconds to know that Tunnabunny make PRECISELY the music I love. SEND ME MORE.” So the fellow sent me more. The album I’m discussing. Ridiculous sparking refrains, and females shouting. Tentative tantrums. Just occasionally I console myself with the thought that some folk TOTALLY understood the playfulness of early Pavement, of the 49 Americans, of that forgotten Slits Rough Trade/Y Records album… you don’t try and recapture the sound. You never try to recapture the sound (or worse, copy the fucking chord sequences). If you must, try and recapture how the sound makes you feel. That’s it. Tunabunny songs are half-songs are fuller songs than most songs around for the simple reason that they haven’t had the spirit and imagination and inspiration bashed and bullied out of them. Damn, this music make me happy.

I’ve even lusted after the thought of owning their split 12-inch vinyl with Hulaboy, and I never lust after vinyl anymore – well, rarely – because vinyl has little place in Brisbane town. There’s no spare space to parade my lust.

So, wait. You’ll be wanting to hear Tunabunny. Correct? Hey, if you’re not: then why not fuck off back to the start.

WHY AREN’T THESE PEOPLE MY FRIENDS?
WHY AREN’T THESE PEOPLE MY FRIENDS?
WHY AREN’T THESE PEOPLE MY FRIENDS?

Listen, and listen. And listen. This next song totally appreciates the humour and wit of Yoko Ono. From Athens, Georgia, I believe.

The dude who sent me this fine, fine music writes:
i saw this band about 16 months ago opening for this awful bikini kill rip off. i had no idea who they were, but they stole the show. they couldn’t fully play, but they attacked the stage and won me over. it wasn’t about the actual songs, but how they existed in that moment. i knew they were something special and the band i had been waiting to find for 10 years. i instantly asked to put out a record by them. they handed me a 19 minute song in return and it was meant to be. they worked on the debut album over the next 6 months and gave me some stuff to go on of artwork-wise and then let me take control. that right there really sealed the deal even further. i trusted them to make a record they would be proud of, and they trusted me to package it in a way that best reflected what they were about.

i then began to find they would take dares so i started to dare them to do things like take a festival appearance and do the andy kaufman song i trusted you for their entire set. they let me shoot a video for them (i miss you you miss me yes) even though i had to borrow their camera, and had never shot or edited a video before. the only thing was i couldn’t take more than a hour to shoot the video and no more than 5 hours to edit it. i finished it in under 4 hours.

athens has become overrun with bands with their one eye on the prize while their other eye is on a mirror so they can watch themselves watch the prize. lots of people don’t understand tunabunny, even bands on the label have no idea why i am so smitten with this band. some folks are starting to come around, but i think they are the most important band from athens since pylon or the b-52’s.

it’s weird, it’s southern, it’s got that bomp and stomp that moves you. i can’t wait for you to get the package, and for you to hear the new album. i think you’ll like this blog. you should have a read of it.

when i hear tunabunny i feel athens.
scott plays bass, but he’s better at guitar.
brigette the singer (the little one) is better at drums.
chloe the drummer is the best guitarist
and mary jane is just mary jane, she’s the trick up the band’s sleeve.
they gut me, they gut me.

My name is Everett True. I am a music critic. This is what I do. I criticise music.
The clue is in my job description – music critic. I do not consider myself a journalist, as I do not research or report hard news. I do not consider myself a commentator as I believe that everyone should be a participant. I criticise people and in return I am not surprised if other people criticise me. It is part of the whole deal of being in the public arena.
I am Everett True. Believe in me and I have power like a God. Quit believing in me and I no longer exist.

5 Responses to Song of the day – 231: Tunabunny

I love the little tunabunny band! Yes, i get them!In the age of crap on the radio that has turning me into a n.p.r junky becouse i need something intelligent to listen to, and i tend to search youtube for my first love’s, smart angry women like,L7,bikini kill,etc and the male bands like the tube’s,and wondering where have all the band’s gone that played in pub’s and actually looking to make themselves happy and other’s? Putting THEMSELVES in the music, not what they think will sound good on the radio or what will make them a super star,where’s my million doller contract mentality… Tunabunny remind me of the decades ago bands.when me and my twin sister searched for the off beat bands in my small town with crazy names like “punch and judy” out to have fun and make friend’s to share music and great times with. Just hanging out at bandpractice and running to mcds for milkshake’s,laughing so hard who needed prozak i think the music today turns kid’s to drug’s, ok maybe im exagerating but,come on people!!

you can get tunabunny at the http://www.hhbtm.com website. along with the first hotpants romance cd too. they are label mates. you can also do the itunes thing, but the record is rather cheap and has a three color silkscreen sleeve that i’m really proud of. mike

Everett TrueNovember 30, 2010 at 2:23 pm

(from Facebook)

Oh for Bangs’ sake! Just been sent my favourite artifact of the year, courtesy of Mike Turner. A three-song, clear plastic flexi-disc of Pavement covers by Athens’ own tremendous Tunabunny. Which I immediately went and recorded on the wrong speed without noticing for a couple of minutes. There’s even a locked groove. And it changes speed mid-side. YEEEEAH!